The Christmas story told through Facebook

It's A Wonderful Life

Had the most amazing privilege to see "It's A Wonderful Life" last night. What an eye opener. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly encourage you to see it. It's a black and white movie so I wasn't too thrilled when my parents said we were gonna watch it, but I was blessed to have spent the time watching it.

The story line is about a man named George Bailey, who, from childhood had all these wonderful dreams for himself. Dreams of traveling and building huge skyscrapers. Quoting the movie: "I know what I'm gonna do tomorrow, and the next day, and the next year, and the year after that." George had his whole life planned out. I think it's funny how so many of us do that too. We have all these amazing dreams for ourselves but sometimes when our dreams don't line up with God's, they don't always come true. And that is exactly what happened to George. Life went on, loved ones died, children were born and it seemed life had slipped like sand through George's fists. All his dreams were put on the back burner. Christmas Eve comes around, he has a beautiful wife, adorable kids and life is crazy as always. He gets to the point where he can't take anymore. And something happens to him that changes his perspective on everything. (I don't wanna give away too much ;) At the end of the movie, George realizes how blessed he really is. No, his dreams never come true but God's dreams for him came true. He affected so many people in his life (more then he had realized) and came to understand what it meant to be content with what he had.

It is truly a movie worth watching. For me, it changed the way I looked at so many things. We should never take for granted anything the Lord has given us. We all have dreams, that we one day hope to come true. The Lord has dreams for us too. And they are far better then anything that we can imagine. So this Christmas season (and even beyond), look at all the things that you have, your gifts, talents, people and thank God for it all :) And you will see, you do have, a Wonderful Life.

"Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?" ~Clarence

It's tough being a woman...in a mean world

It's tough being a woman...in a mean world.

My mom and I are doing a study by Beth Moore (Esther) and she talks about the toughest things about being a woman. This one hit me hard..

It's tough being a woman...in a...mean world. The toughest part can be not getting mean with it. Goodness, we get many opportunities. I'm learning that I have to deal with my own mean streak every time it starts to come out. If I don't, "mean" won't just strike. "It will stick."

"Life sometimes isn't pretty. No matter how much we try, on this earth we still have pain. Instead of going ahead and feeling the pain, processing it before God, and letting Him heal us, sometimes we opt for a trade-in. We swap pain for anger because it's easier for a while, and boy can it be energizing! Soon mad turns to mean. Friends turn to enemies." ~Beth Moore

Sigh...none of us want this, right? I know I don't. As girls, this world can be mean. We have family who disown us. Friends who backstab us...and yet, the bible tells us to sit and take it. And that is usually our last resort. Many of us have at some point misjudged someone. One reason why we must take care not to spread gossip is because we can't control where our words will go. "Humans eat gossip like frogs eat flies."

The mouths of fools are their ruin; they trap themselves with their lips. Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart. ~Proverbs 18-7-8

"Gossip finds an easy ear because our human nature, let to itself, finds sick satisfaction in the deluded discovery that someone who seemed superior was inferior. We who have trusted Christ are partakers of a different nature (2 Peter 1:4). If we discern something evil or suspicious, God calls us to take our concerns to Him with deepest humility, intercede earnestly, and ask Him what-if anything-we should do. Yes, Scripture tells us to expose "fruitless deeds of darkness" (Eph 5:11), but all is conjecture until we're certain we're seeing darkness through the eyes of light."

Often we jump to accuse, wrong or shame someone. If our judgement proves right, our reaction is the best indicator if our hearts are equally right. If we are "smug", our hearts are wrong. If we are humble, our hearts are probably pure.

"Satan has a theory that he's banked his entire accuser's career on: Even the strong grow weak. True enough, but this, Beloved One, is also true: Even the weak grow strong if they set their minds to it."

If you look at the story of Esther (3:4) Mordecai didn't bash Haman, but he also didn't kneel down to him. Sometimes we are stuck in a place where we gossip or we "bow down" to the Haman's in our lives. They step all over us, and we let them. We don't stand against them with principal. The Lord's principal. We sometimes believe that "bowing down" is the only way, other then to slander someone. How did Mordecai resist temptation and stand firm? He responded out of his mind-set rather than his mood. His made-up mind was stronger then his mood. The sight of Haman didn't just hit Mordecai the wrong way one day when he was feeling so contentious that he refused to bow. Even on days where kneeling seemed easier than being harassed and embarrassed, Mordecai's made-up mind was stronger than his mood.

Sometimes you and I are simply our of sorts. Temptations come and we either just let them take over our minds because we are in the mood to sin. We can't just depend on a good mood to get us through. After all, no one can have great hair, the right outfit and the perfect guy. But I'll tell you what we can have: The power to overcome temptation. We need more than a mood. We need a mind-set.

"My beloved sister, may God be allowed to work such steadfastness of mind in you that "the bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days." (Deut 33:25)

*Check out Beth Moore's Study Esther.*

It's tough being a woman....

As I sit here, and think about what to write about. The song "Everything I need" by Kutless came to mind. The words and message spoke to my heart. So many times we as Christians get to a place where we feel we "don't need God". I know, I have been there. This song is such an awesome reminder. That the Lord is our EVERYTHING!

As young girls, we let ourselves be consumed by pop culture, boys, and worldly appeal. Trying to find our value from somewhere. The world seems to tell us that we can't be complete without else shoes, or that dress..or this guy. We have to dance to these songs, and act the way the world tells us to. And all the while, we have the whole world's eyes on us. Watching, waiting for us to fall. Beth Moore says in her bible study Esther (which I encourage every young lady to watch) she mentions the toughest things about being a woman. And she says, "It's tough being a woman in another woman's shadow." It's so true. We go through life, always watching that one girl. Who seems like she has it all. The guys, the body, the life, and maybe is even a Christian. And we seem to constantly be measuring ourselves up against the Barbies of this world.

It's tough being a woman. The song, "Everything I need"...is..more then just a song. It's what our entire existence should be wrapped around. We should live and breathe our Heavenly Prince. Wanting to ONLY measure up to HIM! I know I haven't arrived in this category. I get stuck in the same boat. But every time I feel myself slipping into it..I have to stop myself. Think about what really matters. Jesus is the only thing that should matter to us.

I have a friend, who is a really great guy. He loves to express himself through the art of dancing. And he is very good at it. We were talking about how we shouldn't care about what people think about us. He is right. Many times, we feel the need to measure ourselves because we aren't comfortable with who we are. We look to everything for worth, except in the face of the one who loves us the most. The one who made the snow, who gives us our dreams, and passions. He is the last one on our minds when we need him the most.

Lord, we thank you. For never leaving us. We look to you for our worth. Not in worldly possessions. Or in the love of a guy, but in you alone. Thank you for being everything we need.

Amen